Boat mooring and guard device

ABSTRACT

A boat mooring device comprising a bow-shaped frame member with a cable or the like attached thereto and with a slidable member supported on said cable and secured to a boat so that as the movement of the water causes the boat to move up and down, as well as in other directions, the sides of the boat will bear against the slidable member and will move it to correspond to the up and down movement of the boat and thereby prevent scuffing and damage to the boat. Also, the device will absorb the shock incident to the impact of the boat against the device.

James [451 Oct. 22, 1974 BOAT MOORING AND GUARD DEVICE [76] Inventor: Harry E. Jaynes, 616 N. Old Rand .gs n-tkek l lr eh UL 6004? [22] Filed:

Oct. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 188,892

[52] 11.8. CI. 114/230, 114/219 [51] Int. (11...; B631) 21/00 [58] Field of Search 114/230, 219

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,845,892 8/1958 Jorgenson 114/230 2,979,014 4/1961 Yordi 114/230 3,462,960 8/1969 Bruehl 114/219 X 3,464,214 9/1969 King 114/219 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 703,285 2/1931 France 114/230 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Stuart M. Goldstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max R. Kraus [57] ABSTRACT A boat mooring device comprising a bow-shaped frame member with a cable or the like attached thereto and with a slidable member supported on said cable and secured to a boat so that as the movement of the water causes the boat to move up and down, as

well as in other directions, the sides of the boat will bear against the slidable member and will move it to correspond to the up and down movement of the boat and thereby prevent scuffing and damage to the boat.

Also, the device will absorb the shock incident to the impact of the boat against the device.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB 001221914 [away/far EJ291265 J 1% K gm 1 BOAT MOORING AND GUARD DEVICE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device which may be readily attached to a dock and which has slidable means to which a boat is secured so that as the movement of the watercauses the boat to move up and down the slidable means in contact with the side of the boat will correspondingly move with the boat and thus prevent hull abrasion, scuffing and damage to the boat and, also, as the boat moves laterally against the device, the device will give to absorb the pressure caused by the movement of the boat and eliminate any shock to the boat. It also serves as a-boat mooring device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: I

FIG. I is a view showing a pair of the devices forming this invention attachedto .a dock with a boat moored to the devices.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, partly in section, showing one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner of securing the upper end of the cable to the frame member.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an extension secured to the frame member.

FIG. 6 is a viewshowing another embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a sectional view taken on line 6A-6A of FIG. 6. 1 I

FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view showing the end cap and the means for securing same to the opposite ends of the bow-shaped frame member.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the manner of securing-the frame member to a dock.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the plate in inverted position, and

FIG. 9 is a view showing the securement of a pair of frame members to a dock. v

The device of this invention, whether it is formed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 or other embodiment, is generally indicated by the numeral 10 and includes a generally bow-shaped frame member, generally indicated. by the numeral 12, with the opposite ends being outwardly bowed as at 13. A wire rope, cable or other like member, hereinafter, for the purpose of an overall term, referred to as a cable and generally indicated at 14, is secured to the opposite bowed ends 13 of the bow-shaped frame member 12 and is stretched therebetween. A tubular member generally indicated at 16 is slidably supported on the cable.

The device is adapted to be secured to the dock in a vertical position by fastening means which secure the bow-shaped frame 12 to the dock and which positions the cable 14 vertically outwardly a spaced distance from the dock. A cord or rope 18 is attached to the slidable tubular member 16 with the opposite ends of same secured to the boat, so that while the boat is moored to the dock by the device of this invention and as it is caused to move from the wakes of other boats, tide changes, winds and .turbulent water will, as it presses or bears against the slidabletubular member 16 cause the slidable member to move up and down on the cable 14 correspondingly with the movement of the boat and prevent damage to the. boat. In addition, as the boat presses against the slidable member 16 it will tension the cable 14 and place a stress on the opposite bowed ends 13 of the frame member 12 which causes the device to absorb the pressure and shock produced by the impact of the boat against it. As the boat momentarily moves away from the cables the pressure and tension on the cable and frame will be relieved.

The foregoing generally describes the construction and operation and will be followed by a more detailed description'of the component elements.

FIG. 2 Embodiment Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the bow-shaped frame '12 is formed of two linear sections 20 and 22, with the outwardly bowed ends 13 formed of a pair of arcuate-shaped sections 24 and 26. All of the foregoing sections are made of tubular steel, preferably galvanized. The diameter of the tubing may vary from 1% to 3 inches. dependent upon the size and weight of the boat to be accommodated. The overall length of the frame may vary between 14 to 16 feet.

The opposite ends of the upper section 20 are externally threaded as at 28 and the opposite ends of the lower section 22 are externally threaded as at 30. The inner ends of bowed sections 24 and 26 are also externally threaded. An internally threaded coupling 32 secured the two linear sections 20 and 22, with suitable bolts 33 locking the coupling 32 to said sections. The opposite ends of sections 20 and 22 are secured to the bowed sections 24 and 26 respectively by similar coupling members 34 and 36.

The outer ends of the bowed end sections 24 and 26 are each externally threaded as at 37 to each receive an internally threaded cap 38, to the outer end of which is secured a fixed eye 40.-The frame member 12 is thus formed by assembling and connecting the four tubular sections 20', 22, 24 and 26. The upper tubular linear section 20 is provided with a pair of spaced transversely extending openings 42 which, as will be subsequently described, receive the bolts of the clamping member for securing the frame member to the dock. Secured to the upper eye 40 is a channeled collar or thimble 44 which receives the upper looped end of the cable.

The cable 14 is preferably a multiple stand flexible iron wire rope of between 3/ l6 to Va inch, galvanized. It may be an aircraft cable with a steel core or stainless steel. The upper end of the cable is looped around the channeled collar 44 as at 46 and is secured to the main portion of the cable by means of a suitable clip or clamping member 48 which serves to hold the looped end and to thereby secure one end of the cable to the outer end ,of the upper bowed section 24. A piece of tape 50 is wound around the end of the cable to prevent fraying.

The slidable member 16 may comprise a tube 52 made of plastic or fiberglass material and is positioned on the cable 14 so as to slide relative to said cable. The slidable member 16 is positioned on the cable before the ends of the cable are secured to the bow-shaped frame member 12. The upper and lower open ends of the slidable tubular member 52 are closed by plastic caps 54, each of which has a central opening 55 for passage of the cable. A clip 56 is secured to the lower portion of the cable, said clip being similar to the clip 48 at the upper end and, as best shown'with respect to clip 48, may comprise a U-bolt 57 having threaded ends which receives a plate 59 with threaded nuts 61 secured to the opposite ends of the U-bolt. The lower clip 56 serves to limit the downward sliding movement of the tubular sliding member 16 on the cable while the upper sliding movement of the tubular member 16 is limited by the engagement of the upper clip 48, thus,

the tube is capable of a substantial linear sliding movement relative to the cable.

The nylon rope or cord 18 is wrapped around and secured to the slidable tube 16, with the opposite ends of said rope adapted to be attached to the cleats 60 on the boat. The lower end of the cable 14 is secured to an adjustable turnbuckle, generally indicated at 62, with the lower end of the cable passed through the eye 64 of the eye bolt 65 and looped upwardly to be positioned adjacent the cable and secured by a clip 66, similar to the clip 48 previously described. The other bolt 67 of the turnbuckle has a clevis 68 with transversely extending openings 69, with the clevis 67 attached to the lower eye 40 by a bolt 70 which is positioned and secured in the openings 69 and passes through the eye 40 to lock the two together. A cotter pin 71 is secured to the bolt. The cable is thus secured to the opposite ends of the bow-shaped frame member 12. The tension on the cable, as well as on the bow-shaped frame member may be adjusted by the adjustable turnbuckle 62.

If it is desired to have the cable extend farther outwardly from the dock, this may be accomplished, as shown in FIG. 5, by providing an additional tubular section, such as indicated at 72, and connecting same to the outer ends of each of the arcuate or bowed ends 24 and 26 by a suitable connector or coupler 74, with the cap 38 secured to the outer end of said extensions. This would position the cable a greater distance from the linear sections and 22 of the bowed frame member 12 and would extend the cable a greater distance from the dock than that illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 Embodiment The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that previously described, except for some difference in structural details now to be described.

The bow-shaped frame member 12 is formed of two sections 75 and 76, with each section having a bowed end integrally formed. A coupling sleeve 77 is welded to the inner end of the upper section 75 which slips over the inner end of the lower section 76 and is secured thereto by a suitable fastening bolt 78. The open tubular outer ends of the bowed portions each receive a plug 80 inserted therein and secured by welding, with each of said plugs having an eye 81 similar to that described. The rest of the FIG. 3 embodiment is similar to that previously described, including the extension shown in FIG. 5. The FIG. 3 embodiment operates in a manner identical to that of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B Embodiment The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B is the preferred structure of the bow-shaped frame member and the manner of securing the eyes to the opposite ends of the frame member. In all other respects it is similar to the structure previously described. This embodiment operates in the identical manner to that previously described.

The bow-shaped frame member 12 is formed of two tubular sections 80 and 82, with each section having an integrally formed bowed end 83 and 84 respectively. The inner end of section 80 has a tubular section 86 fitting thereover and welded to it as at 85 to form a coupling sleeve into which the inner end of section 82 fits and is coupled. The sleeve 86 has spaced openings 87 which aline with spaced openings 88 on the section 82 to receive fastening bolts 90 extending therethrough for locking the two sections 80 and 82 together.

The opposite ends of sections 80 and 82 each receive an end cap 91 in the form of a plug body 92 having an enlarged dome-shaped head 93 providing a shoulder 94. The plug body has a transversely extending bore 95 which when the plug body is inserted into the tubular ends of the respective sections 80 and 82 to the shoulder 94, alines with openings 96 therein to receive a threaded eye bolt 98 which carries a fixed eye 99 extending inwardly of each of the bowed ends of each section. A nut 100 locks the eye bolt 98 to its respective section. The cable 14 is secured to each of the eyes 99 in the manner previously described.

Securement to a Dock The device 10 is secured to the dock D by the structure best shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. An L-shaped plate 102 is provided with spaced openings. A U-shaped clamp 103 is provided with oppositely extending end flanges 104. The U-shaped clamp member and flanges are provided with suitable openings. The L-shaped plate 102 is secured to the dock D with the clamp 103 positioned around the upper linear section (20 of FIG. 2, or 75 of FIG. 3, or 80 of FIG. 6) of the frame member 12 and with the openings in the clamp alined with the openings 42 of the frame member. Fastening bolts 105 secure the clamp 103, the frame member 12 and the L-shaped plate 102 to the dock D, as shown in FIG. 9. A similar U-shaped clamp 106 is secured around a lower portion of the linear section of the frame member and is fastened by suitable fastening means to a portion or plank of the dock to thereby secure the bow-shaped frame member in a vertical position or perpendicular to the dock, with the bow-shaped frame member having a minimum of two connecting supports to the dock. Or, the lower portion may be secured by the U-shaped clamp 106 with a U-shaped bolt 107 surrounding a post 108, as shown on the left in FIG. 9. In other instances it may be advisable to invert the L-shaped plate 102 andsecure the inverted L-shaped plate to the dock, as shown in FIG. 8, with the linear portion of the frame member secured thereto in the manner previously described.

A minimum of two such devices 10 are secured in spaced relation to the dock, with the rope 18 on the rearwardlypositioned device attached to the rear cleat 60 of the boat B and with the rope on the other or forward device secured at the forward end of the boat at the point where the gunwale bends to the bow, ahead of the windshield or cockpit. If necessary, another cleat 60 should be put on the boat at this point so that the cord 18 on the forwardly positioned device may be connected thereto. Two of such devices may be spacedly secured to the dock to which a boat up to 30 feet long may be attached and secured. If the boat is longer, for example, approximately 50 feet, then three such devices should be equally spaced on the dock and a boat of such length may be secured thereto. If the boat is to be anchored overnight it may also be tied at the front and rear to the dock.

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the length of the device is such that the frame member 12 extends above and below the ground level of the dock D, with possibly the lower portion of the frame member in contact with the water, and the tubular slidable member 16 is of such length that it will engage the side of the boat so that any portion of the side of the boat coming in contact with the slidable member will at all times contact'the slidable member and no portion of the sides of the boat will directly contact the wire rope or cable 14.

As can be readily seen, with a boat secured to the devices forming this invention,,the boat is docked and moored so that when there is movement of the water due to the wakes of boats, tide changes, winds and the like, the sides of the boat will press against, engage and contact the slidable tubes 16, and when this occurs and as the boat moves up and down the slidable tubes will correspondingly'move up and down, thereby eliminating any damage to the boat. As the boat bears against the slidable tubes the cables 14 will give to the de sired extent and take up and absorb the shock and/or force of the boat pressing against the cables. With the tensioning of the cables the opposite ends of the bowshaped member will flex or give slightly, thus, the entire device will flex and tension as there is pressure against it and will also become untensioned as the boat pressure against it is relieved.

What is claimed is:

. l. A device of the character described comprising a frame member of a generally bow-shaped configuration in which theopposite ends of the frame member are in vertical alinement, a flexible cable or the like stretched taut between and secured to the opposite end of the frame member, said frame so constructed that the opposite ends will flex slightly and will be pulled inwardly in a direction towards each other when said flexible cable is tensioned, means for securing the frame member in a vertical position to a dock or the like so that the cable is vertically positioned and extends outwardly of the dock substantially the same distance along the length of the cable, a tubular member vertically slidable on said cable along substantially the length of said cable, a flexible connector attached to said tubular slidable member, said tubular slidable member being attachable to a boat by means of said flexible connector whereby when the boat moves in the water due to the action of the waterit will through said flexible connector move toward and away from said slidable tubular member and said flexible vertical cable, and when the boat bears against any portion of said tubular slidable member the tubular slidable member will move up and down relative to the cable with the movement of the boat and prevent scuffing and damage to the contacting surfaces of the boat, and the frame member and cable will be tensioned to absorb the shock and impact produced by the contacting boat.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which a plurality of such devices are spacedly secured to the dock, with the boat attached to the slidable member of each such device.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided for adjusting the tension of the cable.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the frame member is made of a plurality of sections coupled together.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the frame member comprises a plurality of linear sections and a plurality of arcuate-shaped sections, with said sections connected to form an integral frame. v

6. A device as set forth in claim in which the bowshaped frame member has a linear portion and opposite outwardly extending bowed ends, and in which extensions are secured to the bowed ends of the frame with frame. 

1. A device of the character described comprising a frame member of a generally bow-shaped configuration in which the opposite ends of the frame member are in vertical alinement, a flexible Cable or the like stretched taut between and secured to the opposite end of the frame member, said frame so constructed that the opposite ends will flex slightly and will be pulled inwardly in a direction towards each other when said flexible cable is tensioned, means for securing the frame member in a vertical position to a dock or the like so that the cable is vertically positioned and extends outwardly of the dock substantially the same distance along the length of the cable, a tubular member vertically slidable on said cable along substantially the length of said cable, a flexible connector attached to said tubular slidable member, said tubular slidable member being attachable to a boat by means of said flexible connector whereby when the boat moves in the water due to the action of the water it will through said flexible connector move toward and away from said slidable tubular member and said flexible vertical cable, and when the boat bears against any portion of said tubular slidable member the tubular slidable member will move up and down relative to the cable with the movement of the boat and prevent scuffing and damage to the contacting surfaces of the boat, and the frame member and cable will be tensioned to absorb the shock and impact produced by the contacting boat.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which a plurality of such devices are spacedly secured to the dock, with the boat attached to the slidable member of each such device.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided for adjusting the tension of the cable.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the frame member is made of a plurality of sections coupled together.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the frame member comprises a plurality of linear sections and a plurality of arcuate-shaped sections, with said sections connected to form an integral frame.
 6. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the bow-shaped frame member has a linear portion and opposite outwardly extending bowed ends, and in which extensions are secured to the bowed ends of the frame with the cable secured to the extensions to increase the distance between the cable and the linear portion of the frame. 